absorbent

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   able to take in liquid, heat, light, or another substance

   The absorbent cloth soaked up the spilled water in seconds.

2. 2
   noun

   a material or substance that absorbs liquid, energy, or another substance

   Dry sand can act as an absorbent for a small oil spill.

From Latin absorbens, the present participle of absorbere, 'to swallow up,' later reinforced by English absorb + -ent. The noun developed from the adjective for a substance that takes something in.

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